The new concept for Arosa Gay Ski Week introduced last winter proved to be a resounding success: all events took place at different locations throughout Arosa, in the new Kursaal, in the Waterworld in Hotel Altein and in various ski hut restau-rants and hotels.

Just as successful was the date, the beginning of January, with the very best snow conditions (last winter even a record snow depth of 2.50 m) and lots of sunny days. The organisers were able to welcome yet again almost 400 participants from over 30 different countries and, justifiably, speak about Europe's favourite winter pride festival!

This year too, the sun loungers at the Tschuggenhütte and throughout the Arosa skiing area are ready and waiting for the 9th successive year for this unique gay-lesbian event. The organisers' many years of experience and the excellent feedback from participants are reflected in the programme: welcome cocktail party with Josey Greenwell Live on Stage (gay super-star country singer from the USA), singles' dinners for anyone who hasn't already hooked up with someone at the welcome party, daily après ski with DJs, lots of special dinners and late, late lounges - so many possibilities and so little time!

Fortunately on holiday you can turn nights into days without a guilty conscience, otherwise you might miss, the "Splash Pool Party" or the "White Snow Ball." Highlights again this year will be the classic concert in the Dorfkirche (church) with Michel Dalberto (F)and Boris Radulovic (S), fondue fun at the Tschuggenhütte with night-time sledging and the already, world-wide, infamous Drag Queen Race.

No one is born on skis or a snowboard, so the experienced ABC Snow Sport School team will be on hand for participants. Just the breathtakingly beautiful, winter landscape in Arosa should be enough to convince the most resigned couch potato to chance one downhill run.

Highlights include the already, world-wide, infamous Drag Queen Race.

Experienced skiers and snowboarders will not be bored: they can enjoy the more challen-ging slopes and even book a ski trip to St. Moritz by helicopter! Non-skiers are also not left out: the Tschuggenhütte, complete with free sun loungers, can also be reached easily and pleasantly on foot.

Just like after a long day at the beach or on the sea, a day in the mountains (don't forget the sun cream!) can be quite exhausting so it is perfect that Arosa, with accommodation to satisfy all requirements, awaits.

A room in one of the eleven participating hotels is recommended for three reasons: the hotels are not only fully prepared for the (in the meantime very international) special guests, accommodation booked over the www.gayskiweek.ch website is available at special rates and by booking a hotel package the "Eventpass Gold" is also included which entitles the bearer to free entry to all events and a twenty percent discount on ski hire in Bananas Ski- and Snowboardcenter Arosa.

HOW TO GET TO AROSA?

Arosa is at the end of the Schanfigg valley, in Canton Graubünden, in eastern Switzerland between Davos and St. Moritz. The excellent transport connections enable you to arrive at your holiday destination relaxed and ready for the week ahead.

It is an easy journey from Zürich to Arosa by car, and also the train journey is child's play: ICE and IC trains go from Zürich Airport to Chur, where you change to the Arosa line: this beautiful, romantic stretch of the journey takes an hour but is well worth every minute.

The wealthiest city in Europe, Zurich has been designated the city with the best quality of life in the world - for seven years in a row. A world leader in climate control, Zurich is also a city where a plurality of citizens profess no faith or religion.